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It is that time of year when everyone looks back on the past 12 months. Here at Already Heard<\/b> we have once again been blessed with some superb releases this year. That is why for this year\u2019s Record of the Year<\/b> list we have decided to cover more releases and highlighted the top 25 releases from 2015. <\/p>\n
As always, the Already Heard<\/b> team have discussed (and argued) to make a definitive list of album releases from the past year.<\/p>\n
We are now down to the final five. Read on to find out what remaining albums made our list, and see which album we have crowned Record of the Year<\/i>.<\/p>\n
25 – 21<\/a> | 20 – 16<\/a> | 15 – 11<\/a> | 10 – 6<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Pentimento – I, No Longer<\/b> (Bad Timing)<\/small> At its core is a heartbeat full of regret and loss. Whilst musically it is a well-balanced mix of soft, reflective moments (\u2018Gateaway\u2019<\/i>) and bold releases of satisfaction and relief (‘Sink or Swim\u2019<\/i>). Brimming with confidence throughout, ‘I, No Longer\u2019 sees a band truly finding their feet and consistently provide a stream of satisfying songs.<\/i><\/i><\/p>\n From the harmonious and plucky ‘Clever Reason\u2019<\/i> to the slow burning, twiddly ‘Got My Answer\u2019<\/i> to the winding ‘Tiger Eye\u2019<\/i> to the somber ‘Tell Me\u2019<\/i>, Pentimento<\/b> provide a compelling and emotional narrative that flows with ease and resonates with subtle pride. A truly delightful record that deserves recognition. (SR)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. The World Is A Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid To Die – Harmlessness<\/b> (Epitaph)<\/small> That \u2018Harmlessness\u2019<\/i> justifies the hype is one thing. That it transcends the group\u2019s emo roots is another entirely. Songs such as \u2018I can be Afraid of Anything\u2019<\/i> display a craft and nuance not found in their previous releases, while the thematically dark \u2018January 10th 2014\u2019<\/i> \u2013 about a woman who takes revenge for rapes and murders on a bus route in Mexico, and that references cult podcast This American Life \u2013 shows the depths of research to which their songwriting is being influenced by larger social issues.<\/p>\n Tonally and musically it still retains the group\u2019s playfulness; a back-to-front version of ‘Wendover’<\/i> released prior to the album\u2019s launch further evidence of this creative and independent streak. Yet there\u2019s a refinement and maturity running throughout which elevates \u2018Harmlessness\u2019<\/i> to greatness. Packed with emotive, powerful songs that often run contrary to convention and break the rules, there\u2019s also an engaging tone that wills you to sing along and have fun.<\/p>\n Two years is a long time in music, but if 2013\u2019s \u2018Whenever, If Ever\u2019<\/i> defined a genre, then 2015\u2019s \u2018Harmlessness\u2019<\/i> ripped up the rulebook and turned the musical landscape on its head. Which, means we\u2019re once again left asking: \u201cWhat happens now?\u201d<\/i> (RM)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor<\/b> (Cooking Vinyl\/Loma Vista Recordings)<\/small> The blues-y undertones and slow, foreboding footsteps of \u2018Killing Strangers\u2019<\/i> showcase Manson<\/b> in a whole new threatening light, before heralding the return of his trademark religious denunciations through the livid earworm \u2018Deep Six\u2019<\/i>. The menacing authority of \u2018The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles\u2019<\/i> and the smooth groove of \u2018Cupid Carries A Gun\u2019<\/i> prove this is the release Manson should\u2019ve conjured up years ago.<\/p>\n Even the acoustic rendition of \u2018Mephistopheles\u2026\u2019<\/i> titled \u2018Fated, Faithful, Fatal\u2019<\/i> showcases shock rock\u2019s \u2018Pale Emperor\u2019<\/i> back on sparkling top form, with atmospheric effects and gloomy vocals suited perfectly to provide a soundtrack to a very dodgy biker bar in the American south. Just be wary of the intimidating figure in the dark corner, keeping his eyes firmly set on your every move. (AC)<\/p>\n 2. The Wonder Years – No Closer To Heaven <\/b> (Hopeless Records)<\/small> It would be a stretch to say this record saw The Wonder Years<\/b> reinvent themselves, but that they were able to create an album that takes the listener on quite such a crushing emotional ride, or set a new standard for how sincere and conscience prickling a pop-punk album can be, stopped fans and critics dead in their tracks.<\/p>\n Soupy and his bandmates created a staggering juxtaposition of songs that are both unapologetically bleak and battered by life but nonetheless powerfully uplifting. Not only is \u2019No Closer To Heaven\u2019<\/i> easily the most complete, complex and musically rewarding of The Wonder Years<\/b>\u2019 career to date; it tackles head on America\u2019s most secular and spiritually bemused and disillusioned generation yet in a way a pop-punk has never had the brains or the nerve to do before. (DW)<\/p>\n 1. Bring Me The Horizon – That\u2019s The Spirit <\/b> (Sony\/Columbia\/RCA)<\/small> Through its larger-than-life tone, ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> is an expansive, subtly diverse record that delivers pure satisfaction from start to finish. Beginning with the powerful ‘Doomed\u2019<\/i> and ending with the celebratory tone of ‘Oh No\u2019<\/i>, thunderous songs like ‘Happy Song\u2019<\/i>, ‘Throne\u2019<\/i> and ‘Avalanche\u2019<\/i> serve as straight up monstrous rock songs that demand to be sung in unison by massive crowds.<\/p>\n Whilst lyrically Oli Sykes takes on subject matters such as disloyalty, addiction, intolerance and dealing with expecations. It is these expectations that have continued to rise with each release from BMTH<\/b>. Sure the bands sound has taken a questionable shift but you can\u2019t fault the consistency that ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> delivers. Everything they have delivered beforehand has led up to this moment.<\/p>\n ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> is a record that has a purpose and is delivered with complete and utter confidence. Through their broaden, grandiose approach, ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> has the potential to change UK rock in the coming years. It\u2019s potential influence is as enormous as the album itself sounds.<\/p>\n Bring Me The Horizon<\/b> were the underdogs that refused to give up. Now they\u2019re on top and with a record that truly exceeded expectations. Congratulations boys. (SR)<\/p>\n Words by Sean Reid (SR), Dane Wright (DW), Ali Cooper (AC), and Rob Mair (RM). <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It is that time of year when everyone looks back on the past 12 months. Here at Already Heard we have once again been blessed with some superb releases this year. That is why for this year\u2019s Record of the Year list we have decided to cover more releases and highlighted the top 25 releases […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15133,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[395],"tags":[4170,62,2555,122,4174,4173,824,4176,4172,4171,4177,4175,928,880],"class_list":["post-6576","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-record-of-the-year","tag-4170","tag-already-heard","tag-bring-me-the-horizon","tag-feature","tag-harmlessness","tag-i-no-longer","tag-marilyn-manson","tag-no-closer-to-heaven","tag-pentimento","tag-record-of-the-year-2015","tag-thats-the-spirit","tag-the-pale-emperor","tag-the-wonder-years","tag-the-world-is-a-beautiful-place-and-i-am-no-longer-afraid-to-die"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/bd78f50db2c1246e25c2ec2a99cd0287\/tumblr_inline_nzk31ff4DS1qztcot_540.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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We\u2019ve quietly been keeping an eye on New York\u2019s Pentimento<\/b> for a number of years. Having grown in stature through word-of-mouth, they produced a career best (so far) in \u2018I, No Longer\u2019<\/i>.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/34bfee22324524e13afaa4ab534758d5\/tumblr_inline_nzk31gooN01qztcot_540.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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\nWhile 2013\u2019s \u2018Whenever, If Ever\u2019<\/i> firmly put The World Is A Beautiful Place\u2026<\/b> on the map, and in no small part helped define the \u201cemo revival\u201d<\/i> the biggest conundrum would be just what the multi-faceted, hugely-talented collective would do next.
\nSigning to Epitaph was certainly out of left-field, representing further evidence of the punk rock institution\u2019s own revival, yet would also also increase the excitement around one of the most anticipated returns of the year.<\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/8b81a0596f44786dff57a6fae5599b8c\/tumblr_inline_nzk31gWOMp1qztcot_540.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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Marilyn Manson<\/b>\u2019s complete departure from his trademark gothic undertones came in the form of \u2018The Pale Emperor\u2019<\/i> \u2013 a genius invention of a dark, streetwise figure that you really wouldn\u2019t want to meet in a dark alley. <\/p>\n![\"image\"](\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/d48b402303c847fd78b7223fb45bff5a\/tumblr_inline_nzk31hLvfg1qztcot_540.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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Few records this year have been waxed lyrical over to quite the extent of \u2019No Closer To Heaven\u2019<\/i>. That\u2019s with damned good reason, and it\u2019s no surprise to see our favourite Philadelphia natives come so close to taking the top spot.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/78.media.tumblr.com\/a8f7da66469a17f345a608eca571548c\/tumblr_inline_nzk31hsfuA1qztcot_540.png\" "\\"\\"")
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\nWhen you look at how far Bring Me The Horizon<\/b> have come since emerging from their Sheffield home over ten years, ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> is some achievement. Having been one of metal\u2019s most loathed bands, their rise has been miraculous with ‘That\u2019s The Spirit\u2019<\/i> serving as a career highlight and simultaneously marking the next step in BMTH<\/b>\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n